Foam Gun - straight shampoo

I have read all the posts about mixing ratios for car shampoo in the Foamaster 2. I went to the Adam's website today and had an online chat with them asking what the proper ratio is. Their advice was to use straight undiluted shampoo in the foam gun - no water.

Curious, I tried just that today with some Gold Class shampoo and a splash of ONR thrown in for good measure. On the "C" setting the foam was great, and on the "D" setting there were mountains of foam, and the shampoo went pretty far. I think I used 6 ounces total and I foamed the car about 3 times all over.

Unless the shampoo is too thick to draw from the gun, I will be using straight shampoo from now on.

I am interested in your comments and suggestions.

 

I know Phil used to use Adam's soap straight up in the foam gun.

I would try without the ONR for more foam though. ONR reduces suds and increases slickness in general.

 

using straight soap isn't cost effecient...I'd dillute it with water, at least 4:1

 

I have to disagree with this. I just screw my foam gun to the top of a bottle of Poorboys Super Slick n Suds and let 'er go. After foaming an F350, I could barely measure the amount of soap used. If I used a premix of water and APC or soap, I would empty an entire 32 ounce bottle no problem. Seems that the thinner consistency allowed the premix to be pulled through the gun with greater ease causing it to go through more product. Just my experience.

 

Ken, defferent soaps may require different mixing ratios...Some only take a few ounces to get thick foam in a foam cannon, some take more...from my experience I used Poorboy's SS&S in a foam gun, had it on the highest ratio using straight shampoo, and foamed up just as much as if I mixed it with water 4:1...it was a long time ago, using a foam gun, not a foam cannon...maybe I should have switched mixing ratios on the gun itself...

 

Good point. I was using a foam cannon, not one of the Gilmour Foam Guns. I found that with the cannon, I would use less product by using it straight, than if I diluted it. Thanks for the clarification.

 

Using a thicker soap/soap solution in a foam cannon does makes a difference, I've noticed that...

 

i use a empty water gallon jug filled with 4-5 ounces of car wash and rest with water (shake well). using straight soap is a waste IMO, and you'll go through it quick in no time...

 

I think I used a total of 6 ounces of soap in my experiment, foaming the car three times at least. That's only 2 ounces for a complete foaming, so perhaps it's the same cost as diluting. As they say, whatever works!

The Gold Class shampoo 64 oz. is also dirt cheap at Costco.

I'll be trying some Adam's in a week or so.

 

Ken, how would this affect the overall dilution ratio out the end of the lance, or cannon as you call it, and how do you overcome the problem of stripping LSP's if the mix is too strong?

 

hmmmm...you have a point there, David...

 

Just thinking about this some more....I guess if you prepping a car for paint correction it is irrelevant as you would want to remove all the previous LSP's. As for maintenance washes I suspect Ken has another procedure altogether involving a 'safe' dilution ratio or shampoo.

 

If you are using a foam cannon, the viscosity of the product plays a huge part in how much you will use. As I stated, by running the PB Super Slick and Suds straight, very little was used as its soooo thick. By comparison, if you used the 4oz in 32oz of water, you would easily empty the bottle as its now its quite thin and easy for the cannon to draw it up and out. I guarantee you used more soap than you would if you used it straight. I know because I measured mine. If you used a straight APC, then yes it would be wasteful as its thin to begin with.

To be honest, when I use my cannon, my goal is to produce shaving cream. I really don't worry about dilution ratios. I like foam and lots of it. As for stripping LSPs, if I am not waxing the vehicle, I only run a wax friendly soap through it. That way it'll help loosen up the debris, but not strip any wax.

 

I have a foam gun, is it worth it to put straight shampoo in it?

 

Try it once and see if you like it. Shampoo is one of the cheaper chemicals we use. I prefer thick suds, so using an extra ounce or two isn't a big deal.

 

I think there might be some misunderstandings here. You'll want to run pure undiluted soap in the bottle but set the dilution ration on the gun. The dilution will take place in the gun as the water and soap come out.

 

Right, Bob. That's where the confusion sets in. The gun is supposed to do the mixing for you. You don't have to "pre-dilute" what goes in the bottle. Others may disagree but I suggest trying it both ways to see which works better. For me, it's straight soap in the bottle. If your soap is super thick and can't be drawn up the tube, then a little dilution makes sense

 

this was use with a foam "gun" (the one that hooks up to the garden hose). i'm currently using maxi suds II and i put 5 oz's in a gallon water jug and use it from there. there's plenty of "foam" and lubrication and not to mention i can fill the foam gun canister 3-4 times...

p.s. my foam cannon doesn't get much use these days as i use the foam gun more...

 

Big Al,

Since I am about to buy a foam canon, I am curious as to why you hardly use yours anymore. Anybody else in the same situation?

 

How it works-

The multi-ratio injector offers various settings to adjust the dilution rate; by injecting the flow from the hose to the reservoir to provide the dilution ratio selected, built-in filters ensure any sediment in the water supply is removed before it reaches your car. An anti-siphon valve protects the water supply by preventing soapy water from siphoning back into the hose (when the water supply is turned off, you may notice a slight discharge of water at the base of the handle - this is normal and indicates that the anti-siphon valve is functioning properly).